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A fire in Hijaz (Arabia) that lights up the necks of the camels in Busra
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah said, "The Hour will not be established until a fire comes out from the earth of Hijaz that lights up the necks of the camels of Busra." [Sahih Muslim no. 2902 in Kitab-ul-fitan].

Busra according to an-Nawawi (Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Vol. 18 p.30) is a city known to be in Syria (Sham) that is three stations in journey between Damascus and itself. This is one of those great signs that has been truthfully reported by trustworthy sources to have already taken place just as the Messenger of Allah had informed. It happened 640 years after Muhammad (s.a.w.)'s prophesy!

Ibn Kathir talks about this in his history book as one of the events of the year 654 (1260 CE). He said, "In it was the appearance of the fire from the earth of Hijaz that lighted up the necks of the camels in Busra, just as the report tells us about that in Bukhari and Muslim (muttafaq 'alaihi). The great scholar (shaikh, imam, allamah and hafiz) Shihab-ud-Din Abu Shamah al-Maqdisi elaborates on the statement in his book "Adh-Dhayl wa Sharhuhu" and presents a widely-reported narration (mutawatir) from many books about this fire in Hijaz that has been definitely witnessed in Damascus; how it emerged and related matters."

Abu Shamah lived during the time it happened. He clearly and precisely talks about the dates and how eyewitnesses reliably informed him about it. They were in their houses that night and it was as if every single home had a lamp (lighting it up). He mentions detailed reports about it from quite a number of sources. A great light appeared in Medina on Thursday night on the 3rd of Jumada al-Akhirah in the year 654 (13th century). Then there was a massive earthquake that shook the earth, trees and the houses right down to their roofs and doors. This happened repeatedly until Friday and then a huge fire appeared in the Harrah near Quraizah. People saw it from their homes in town as if the fire was with them. Its flames were higher than three pillars (lighthouses) put together. Its fire flowed towards the Shadh valley like water and blocked it and other paths and highways. Many people were afraid that they would be overcome by it. It (the lava) flowed east. From its centre large boulders or fire came out that consumed rocks. It was like a specimen of what Allah told us in His book, the Quran:

"Indeed it throws about sparks (huge) as Forts, As if there were (a string of) yellow camels (marching swiftly)." [Chapter al-Mursalaat, Verse 32-33]

Abu Shamah described from these sources how the eruption spread across the land and was visible from far away. The main part of it was like a huge red mountain. The fire appeared from the east of Medina about a half-day's journey away. It exploded from the earth and rivers of fire flowed from it that were four miles wide and four farsakh long. People were completely at a loss as to what they should do. At first the lava was red and then congealed into black masses. The sun and the moon were obscured and darkness prevailed.

Some talked about this in light of the result of sinfulness and oppression and the need to come closer to Allah through obedience. Others mentioned how people repented en masse and were put off from eating and drinking.